5 Over-Ear Headphone Brands That Offer Better Audio Quality Than Bose

Bose is one of the most popular headphone brands in the United States, and for good reason. The company produces reliable products that deliver sound quality. They often excel with bass, and the noise-canceling performance is some of the best you’ll find. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 headphones are my choice for air travel for this reason: they rank among the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy.

But if we are satisfied with audio quality, Bose is not always the brand of headphones offering the best sound. You will find many others that excel in overall sound quality with better crispness, clarity, depth of sound and accuracy of sound reproduction. They handle highs as well as lows, with many offering models that support high-resolution audio. Some wireless models even come with a USB-C cable in the box for wired listening (Bose offers this too).

Bose is suitable for a specific type of user who wants powerful, immersive sound, as well as frequent travelers and commuters. But for a complete listening experience, headphones from big brands like Sennheiser and Sony and smaller ones like Marshall can offer better overall value for money in terms of sound quality.

Like Bose, Sennheiser has long been known for its noise cancellation, but many of its headphones are superior in sound quality. I recently reviewed the new Sennheiser Momentum 5 wireless earbuds, and they sound superb. Some sources rank models like the Sennheiser HDB 630 among the best-sounding over-ear headphones, and the HD800S as the best audiophile over-ear.

Sennheiser makes headphones for a wide range of users, including professional DJs, proving that the brand is trusted by those who value audio quality above all else. Additionally, models like the aforementioned Momentum 5 are Hi-Res certified, capable of playing aptX Lossless audio as well as Dolby Atmos spatial audio when connected to compatible devices with compatible music sources. Given the company’s involvement in hearing aids and assistive products, Sennheiser knows sound. The company remains an independent, family-owned business and claims to be one of the “world’s leading providers of professional audio technology.” This expertise clearly carries over to its consumer product range as well.

Models like the Sony WH-1000XM6 are often cited as some of the best new headphones you can buy in 2026. While these particular headphones are praised for their noise-canceling prowess, the sound quality is also described as excellent. They support the LDAC codec for high-resolution audio, which you can unlock with a compatible device and audio source, like Tidal Music. Our review of the Sony WH-1000MX5 found that this model’s predecessor delivers punchy bass with well-tuned and balanced mids as well as crisp highs, and most reviewers consider the XM6 an overall upgrade over the XM5. Plus, as with other Sony headphones, you can use the equalizer in the Sony Headphones Connect app to adjust them to your liking or depending on the type of music you’re listening to.

Headphones like the Sony MDR-M1 studio headphones, meanwhile, rank among the best major audiophile headphones. Although these are wired headphones, they are specifically designed for audiophiles who want the best audio quality possible. Sony consistently appears in the best headphone lists when it comes to sound quality. Another testament to the brand is that Sony ranks as the best headphone brand in terms of customer satisfaction.

A huge surprise came when Consumer Reports noted that the Apple AirPods Max 2 ranked among the best noise-canceling over-ear headphones. Given that audio isn’t Apple’s core business, this is a big deal. But major improvements in sound quality as well as improved noise cancellation have propelled them to the top. That’s largely thanks to Apple’s H2 chip and improved adaptive EQ. The result is better dynamics and balance.

Our review of the AirPods Max 2 found that the new digital signal processing algorithm provides “better separation,” while the high dynamic range amplifier produces louder, cleaner, less distorted sound. We also found that while the bass is deep, it doesn’t become overwhelming, which can sometimes be the case with Bose headphones. Additionally, they support 24-bit, 48kHz lossless playback when you connect them to a compatible source with compatible content via cable.

These may be the only Apple headphones to usurp Bose, but they could be an indication of what’s to come from Apple in the future when it comes to over-ears. The same company that makes your smartphone can also make the best over-ear headphones to use with it.

Of all the headphones I’ve tested over the years, the JBL headphones are the most consistent when it comes to sound quality. I never doubt that the sound will be pleasant overall and that I will hear details in songs that I often miss with lower quality headphones. They are never harsh, the bass is always punchy but not overly emphasized, and the sound is crisp, clear and enveloping. One of my favorite pairs is the JBL Live 770NC, launching in 2023. You can first take a series of hearing tests in the app to personalize the sound, which it calls a Personi-Fi profile. I found the sound quality buttery smooth, with Spatial Sound providing a concert feel when you prefer that sound signature.

In addition to headphones and speakers aimed at the general public, JBL also has the JBL Professional division which offers professional audio equipment. Its best-performing over-ear headphones for 2026 are widely considered to be the JBL Tour One M3 Smart Tx, hailed for offering features like lossless audio over a wired connection and full-bodied sound.

One of the headphone brands that doesn’t often appear on lists among the “big guys”, Marshall has become underrated in many ways because their headphones are absolutely wonderful. The brand is best known for providing stage equipment to professional musicians, dating back to the 1970s and its partnership with the late Jimi Hendrix. But Marshall makes everything from large party speakers to portable Bluetooth speakers – and yes, headphones too.

I recently reviewed the new Marshall Milton ANC headphones, which are technically over-ear headphones and not over-ear headphones. But they offer incredible noise cancellation as well as fantastic, rich, dynamic and detailed sound. A feature called Soundstage, also found in other Marshall headphones, gives you a concert experience with more pronounced vocals. A few years ago, I also tested the Marshall Monitor III headphones, the flagship product of the range. These on-ears deliver clear, defined sound, which I found warmer and more comforting than the Sonos Ace headphones I compared them to at the time. While the Marshall headphones may not beat Bose in terms of noise cancellation, when it comes to overall sound quality, they are generally better.

Throughout my 20-year career in tech journalism, I’ve reviewed hundreds of headphones, including over-ear, over-ear, in-ear, open-back, and more. In addition to evaluating them for fit, design, and noise cancellation (where applicable), I also focus heavily on sound quality. I’m often able to compare designs and wear them in all types of real-world scenarios, like at home, in cafes, outdoors, and even on airplanes. So I have a good idea of ​​which brands perform best in this regard.

Based on my experience testing numerous headphones from all the brands mentioned above, as well as Bose, as well as data from other reliable sources, I am confident in these choices. It’s worth noting that this list is by no means exhaustive, with brands like Beyerdynamic and Audio-Technica also being interesting contenders.